2003 Senate Bill 554 / Public Act 152

Introduced in the Senate

June 4, 2003

Introduced by Sen. Shirley Johnson (R-13)

To raise a number of license fees and taxes charged to citizens. Among these are increases of $3 in annual vehicle registration fees; an increase of $13 in the fee for an original driver’s license, from $12 to $25, and from $12 to $18 for a renewal; in increase of $15 for a chauffer’s license, from $20 to $35; an increase in the annual auto dealer license fee, from $10 to $75; and an increase in the annual salvage dealer license fee, from $100 to $160. A new $10 late fee for late vehicle registrations would also be imposed. In total, citizens would pay an additional $55 to $65 million to the state under the bill. The bill would authorize a new fund to use the increased revenue to replace part of the road tax money now diverted to fund the Department of Treasury and the Secretary of State. This is one of many bills authorizing fee increases totaling some $125.5 million which Gov. Jennifer Granholm proposed to close a gap between state spending and expected revenue in the Fiscal Year 2003-2004 budget.

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations

June 10, 2003

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

June 11, 2003

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one which incorporates technical changes that do not affect the substance of the bill as previously described. The bill was amended to clarify that the new late fees on vehicle registrations do not apply to a person whose insurance company has allowed him or her to delete coverage not required for a vehicle that is not driven, but who still maintains some other insurance coverage on the vehicle.

The substitute passed by voice vote

June 12, 2003

Passed in the Senate 36 to 2 (details)

To raise a number of license fees and taxes charged to citizens. Among these are increases of $3 in annual vehicle registration fees; an increase of $13 in the fee for an original driver’s license, from $12 to $25, and from $12 to $18 for a renewal; in increase of $15 for a chauffer’s license, from $20 to $35; an increase in the annual auto dealer license fee, from $10 to $75; and an increase in the annual salvage dealer license fee, from $100 to $160. A new $10 late fee for late vehicle registrations would also be imposed. In total, citizens would pay an additional $70 million to the state under the bill. The bill would use the increased revenue to replace part of the road tax money now diverted to fund the Department of Treasury and the Secretary of State. This is one of many bills authorizing tax and fee increases proposed to close a gap between state spending and expected revenue.

Received in the House

June 12, 2003

Referred to the Committee on Transportation

June 26, 2003

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

July 15, 2003

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one which was subsequently superceded by another substitute with substantive changes. See Shulman substitute.

The substitute failed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Marc Shulman (R-39)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one which replaces annual registration taxes on trailers with a new permanent trailer license, places a portion of the new fees in a new "Traffic Law Enforcement and Safety Fund" (TLESF) which would be used to increase State Police traffic law enforcement, and incorporates other technical changes.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Marc Shulman (R-39)

To clarify a technical provision in the bill so the language of the amended law is internally consistent.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Scott Shackleton (R-107)

To clarify that if the Secretary of State reissues a new registration plate for all trailers, a person who has purchased a permanent plate to pay only the appoximately $5 "reissue" cost.

The amendment passed by voice vote

July 16, 2003

Amendment offered by Rep. Sandy Caul (R-99)

To place a portion of the new fees in a new trooper recruit school fund, which would be used to pay for future state trooper recruit training so as to maintain the trooper force at a certain level.

The amendment passed 94 to 8 (details)

July 17, 2003

Passed in the House 65 to 43 (details)

To raise a number of license fees and taxes charged to citizens. Among these are increases of $3 in annual vehicle registration fees; an increase of $13 in the fee for an original driver’s license, from $12 to $25, and from $12 to $18 for a renewal; in increase of $15 for a chauffer’s license, from $20 to $35; an increase in the annual auto dealer license fee, from $10 to $75; and an increase in the annual salvage dealer license fee, from $100 to $160. A new $10 late fee for late vehicle registrations would also be imposed. In total, citizens would pay an additional $55 to $65 million to the state under the bill. The bill would use the increased revenue to replace part of the road tax money now diverted to fund the Department of Treasury and the Secretary of State. This is one of many bills authorizing tax and fee increases proposed to close a gap between state spending and expected revenue. The bill would also replace annual registration taxes on trailers with a new permanent trailer license, and use a portion of the new revenue to increase State Police traffic law enforcement.

Received in the Senate

July 17, 2003

Passed in the Senate 32 to 2 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which replaces annual registration taxes on trailers with a new permanent trailer license, and places a portion of the increased fee revenue in a new "Traffic Law Enforcement and Safety Fund" (TLESF) which would be used to increase State Police traffic law enforcement.

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Aug. 8, 2003